The Kia Dealership Experience (Customer Service)

[eljay]

I had a similar experience to Jumpy's today--I contacted a dealer on their website to ask if there was any new info about release date, and all they wanted to "chat" about was my trade in, whether I was paying cash or financing, etc. I ignored their questions and pointed out this was all irrelevant, since they don't have the car or an idea in heck about the price, and finally they said "fall." Which, of course, we're all pretty sure isn't true. I think I'll like the car, but the dealership experience is from hunger.

 

[moinmoin]

Maybe you should approach the dealership for a contact, a go-to person. Call, ask for the manager. He/she will likely set you up with someone.
Explain and make it crystal clear, that you have no car to trade, you just want to buy a specific car, the Stinger. You are absolutely not interested in anything else, besides to ascertain whether you can make a date for a testdrive. And when that will be.
You also want to be kept informed of developments. Indicate, if the new contact plays it right, he/she can look forward to a sale.

The person I am dealing with, explained that Kia will provide a car for a limited time to the dealership, for them to invite interested buyers. Kia charges the dealership for this. Timeframe is probably October/November.

 

[psybj]

ever [/I]be interested in buying from you is a Stinger." lol

Why would you not tell them to fak off? I would enjoy the opportunity to insult someone who invades my privacy with unwanted intrusions, do it all the time.

 

[STNGRNV]

I've had the same experience. Contacted a dealer online and got a rush of emails. Each email I told them I'm only interested in the Stinger (to which they said they have no info). The last one asked, "Emailing too much?" I haven't bought a car in almost 20 years. Didn't realize salesman had gotten pushier.

 

[Kia Stinger]

Contacting any dealership by email/website is rough because those employees are paid to get people in the door AT ANY COST. JUST GET THEM IN and let the sales professionals work from there. Their job is to find out if you have a trade-in and give you an inflated number to get you in the door.

 

[STNGRNV]

Contacting any dealership by email/website is rough because those employees are paid to get people in the door AT ANY COST. JUST GET THEM IN and let the sales professionals work from there. Their job is to find out if you have a trade-in and give you an inflated number to get you in the door.

I get all that. I've had to repeatedly tell them that nothing will get me in the door unless it is Stinger related.

 

[Kia Stinger]

I get all that. I've had to repeatedly tell them that nothing will get me in the door unless it is Stinger related.

Yeah, I think they have to be told that they're wasting their time otherwise. Like you basically did. Otherwise it'll never stop until you block them. I should note that I've only experienced this to a memorable extent from non-top tier dealerships...

 

[eljay]

Frankly, I'm not all that upset about the whole process; actually, it's kind of amusing if a little pathetic to see how hard the dealerships are trying to sell something, anything, despite lacking what I really want. (My dad was in sales, straight commission, so I know the animal.) My last two cars were bought through the Auto Club buying program, basically fleet rate w/o the need to negotiate anything other than the trade-in and financing, if needed. Doesn't work so well for a new model, since fleet rate is not so different, if at all, from MSRP, but it cuts out a lot of the crap when you get into the office.

Right now I'm more concerned with our original point in the thread, the post-purchase service experience.

Note: The Forum has been great fun, and very informative, so thanks, guys, for any info about cars or the buying process.